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Palate reconstruction surgery for Hazel: covering what insurance won't

After an aortic valve defect, Hazel was cleared for palate reconstruction surgery, but the bill is more than we can manage.

🇺🇸 United States2,446 views
Ruth S. Rivera
Email verifiedPhoto verified
San Diego
Hazel was diagnosed with an aortic valve defect in July. The surgeon at San Diego Regional Medical Center recommended palate reconstruction surgery, and She is scheduled for September. The hospital's financial office gave us a written estimate of $8,750, and after what the public health scheme will pay we're still $6,650 short. my mother has been in and out of San Diego Regional Medical Center since July. The doctors say an aortic valve defect will get worse without palate reconstruction surgery. We have emptied our savings and borrowed from relatives, but the estimate of $8,750 is more than we can find. While we wait, Hazel struggles with daily life and can't work a full shift. Her family has taken turns caring for her, and I've cut my own work hours to be there. The recovery period is expected to take about 12 weeks. During that time Hazel won't be able to work a full shift, so the costs keep growing. I'll pay the hospital and pharmacy directly and post every receipt in the updates section. Where the $6,650 goes: • Surgeon and anesthesia fees: $2,900 • Hospital stay (3 nights): $2,150 • Pre-operative tests and imaging: $640 • Post-operative medication: $390 • Physiotherapy sessions: $370 • Travel and lodging for the family: $200 Please ask me anything in the questions section. I'll answer honestly and quickly.
due date
2026-09-16
bill type
Hospital invoice

Updates from Ruth

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  • Kimani Kato Simiyu 🇰🇪 · $500

    “Hang in there. Thought of Hazel all day after reading this. - Embakasi”

  • Bagus Irfan Tan 🇮🇩 · $100
  • Yasemin Aksoy 🇹🇷 · $100
  • Ramón N. Castillo 🇪🇸 · $100
  • Anonymous 🇮🇪 · $100
  • Anonymous 🇳🇿 · $100
  • Bakari Victor Lubega 🇰🇪 · $100

    “Rooting for you. Only $100 but hope it helps. - Kasarani”

  • Lily K. Hernandez 🇬🇧 · $100
  • Ganga Sushma Bista 🇳🇵 · $100
  • Seyi Tunde Ajayi 🇳🇬 · $100
  • Emma Müller 🇩🇪 · $100

    “All the best. Hope the October deadline works out. - Essen”

  • Faith Salvador 🇵🇭 · $100

    “Thought of Hazel all day after reading this. - Mandaue”

  • Enzo Vinícius Soares 🇧🇷 · $100
  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $75
  • Eugene K. Wright 🇺🇸 · $75
  • Sota Atsushi Kaneko 🇯🇵 · $75
  • Beatriz Bianca Coelho 🇧🇷 · $68

    “Sending love. I'm in Recife, thinking of you. - Recife”

  • Fatima Uzma Khan 🇵🇰 · $50
  • Opio Daniel Onyango 🇺🇬 · $50
  • Bello Victor Nwosu 🇳🇬 · $50

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  • Toru TakeuchiPhoto verified

    sending good thoughts, Ruth. Looking forward to the next update.

    • Vandana R. BediID verified

      Wishing you the best, Ruth. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. We're a small family in Abuja but we're thinking of you. Take care.

      • It takes guts to ask. Well done. We're a small family in Bordeaux but we're thinking of you. Greetings from Bordeaux.

        • Hang in there, Ruth. I hope things turn around soon. After 9 years in logistics I know how hard it's to ask for anything.

          • Thanks for sharing this, Ruth. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Don't lose heart. A few weeks ago I was in a hole too and it changed faster than I expected.

            • Todd E. HopkinsPhoto verified

              Hope things get better soon. This could happen to any of us. Put this on a community board in Medellín this morning. Greetings from Medellín.

              $3,479.50 raised of $6,650

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